A Japanesey Tale
December 15, 2004
I’m trying to integrate categories into my updates with Japan being one. This story fits perfectly. There’s a fellow at work, Marc, who lost his wallet a few days ago. Just when he was about to go and cancel everything, someone called him into the office. Apparently, some Japanese guy found his wallet and turned it into the police station. The police station informed the employer (I’m guessing because some work information was in his wallet?). In this country, your employer is very much responsible for you even outside the office. The police like contacting your company to get to you. Anyway, the deal now is that Marc has to arrange for a time to meet this Japanese dude. Traditionally, because he did you a favour by turning in your wallet, you’re supposed to buy a gift for him and thank him. He will then give you a receipt which you then take to the police station to claim your wallet.
Because Marc’s Japanese ability is limited, he’s going to have to ask someone to help him call this dude in Japanese. By doing this favour, Marc’s gonna have to buy another present. When he told me about his predicament, I was about to burst out laughing. It’s so typical of this country to make something as simple as claiming your lost wallet as confusing and difficult as this. Here’s to you, Marc!
December 15th, 2004 at 17:05
Japan is one country chock full of protocol eh? On the one hand, it’s complicated and so fucking tedious. But on the other, there’s something to be said about curtesy, which i think North Americans are sorely lacking. Perhaps if us North Americans took a page from people from Japan we’d get along a whole lot smoother. Or, maybe we’d just give a country presents before we bomb them. Either or, I suppose it’s the thought that counts.
December 15th, 2004 at 17:50
Man, if I were Marc, I would just report the credit cards as missing and start over with my life rather than go through all that crap!
December 15th, 2004 at 18:26
Knowing this country though, you’d have to buy a gift for calling the credit card center first.
December 15th, 2004 at 19:38
Geez, you’d think with customs like that Japan wouldn’t suffer from its economic woes like it does right now
December 16th, 2004 at 20:54
Here’s another Japanesey thing that I may have mentioned before but I fail to remember now. As a “tradition”, people here on Christmas, buy…
I kid you not. My first Christmas here, I was wondering why there was a HUGE line for the KFC sort of near my old apartment. Then this year, in the KFC really near my new apartment, I see signs that you need to reserve your orders by December 20th. I finally read somewhere that yes, people do eat KFC on Christmas. And on the KFC Japan webpage, it actually says right now that they’re taking orders.
How the hell did a fast food restaurant become a yearly tradition? Only in Japan.
December 17th, 2004 at 02:23
How did it become a yearly tradition? Marketing. Seeing as a Japan is not a Christian country the bigwigs at KFC probably thought that Japan would buy their product if they sold it as a north american christmas tradition. Lo and behold it worked! I figure any excuse to get cheap and greasy fried chicken is a good excuse.
December 17th, 2004 at 04:33
I kind of wish I had tried KFC when I was in Japan. Just to see how different it is.
I miss Mos Burger.
December 17th, 2004 at 06:17
KFC here is a bit different. For one, the skin isn’t as crispy. I find the chicken here is more oily too. It’s rather expensive here – 8 pieces and 4 sides comes to 2000 yen or so. That’s about 50% more.
December 17th, 2004 at 22:41
I bet they’re made from real chickens there though, not those headless hybrids pumped with steroids.
December 17th, 2004 at 23:13
Yeah. The head’s the best part.
December 18th, 2004 at 07:11
JERRY!!! PuLease get a xanga and post this link on it so i can easily click and visit you once in a while
December 18th, 2004 at 07:45
oh nevermind ;p i’m so silly
i can just go to your site thru dennis’s :p i’m such a creature of habit :p ttyl 
December 19th, 2004 at 02:15
Zana, you can press CTRL-D to create a link in your Favorites folder too.